Today, Rottweilers are seen as ‘savage beasts’ like Pit Bulls.
They’re big and strong.
Plus, they have one of the scariest snarls in the doggy world.
Now, the question is:
Can a Rottweiler just snap and severely attack a human?
Continue reading to learn:
- If a Rottweiler can kill a human.
- 3 top things that make Rottweilers ‘dangerous.’
- 3 shocking reasons why Rottweilers attack humans.
- The most likely winner in a fight between a Rottweiler and a human.
- And a lot more…
Table of contents
Can a Rottweiler kill a human?
A Rottweiler can kill a human if they’re untrained and become aggressive. There are several reports about this. And most of the cases involve children. Due to the dog’s big size and strong jaws, they could inflict severe injuries on people. The damage can be fatal, especially to toddlers.
Fatal dog bites by Rottweilers
In 2015, 11% of the total bite fatalities were due to Rottweilers. And most of these involve children.
Then in a 2017 report, these dogs were the 2nd most deadly breed. While Pit Bulls ranked 1st.
So from 2005 to 2017…
Rottweilers were responsible for 10% of lethal attacks.
But it says that there was a 4% decrease in the cases. And this is compared to the deaths in 2010.
“What about today?”
There’s no recent survey on this matter yet.
But there are still reports of Rottweilers victims.
In April 2022, a 2-year-old boy lost his life after being attacked at home by a Rottie.
The news said he was rushed to the hospital. But the kid suffered from a cardiac arrest prior to it.
Rottweiler vs human: who would win in a fight?
A human can win in a fight against a Rottweiler using weapons.
But with bare hands, a healthy, adult human might still be able to do it. Given that they have enough experience in dealing with dogs.
However, the chances may be lower if it’s a trained Rottweiler.
“But why?”
Have you seen how K9 Rottweilers attack bad guys?
Police train these Fidos to catch suspects.
When they view a person as a threat…
They’ll quickly lunge and bite the arms or legs of the criminal.
And Rottweilers may not even let go of the individual until they hear the command.
So, between a human and a well-trained Rottie…
The former’s chances of winning might be low without any weapons.
Now, besides this…
“What makes Rottweilers a strong opponent?”
#1: They’re big and powerful
First, they have a massive body.
According to AKC, these are the average weight of an adult Rottweiler:
- Male: 95 to 135 lbs (43 to 61 kg).
- Female: 80 to 100 lbs (36 to 45 kg).
So, a full-grown Rottweiler or ‘Rottie’ can be as heavy as a wooden reception table.
Now, due to their large size…
Rotties are powerful and can cause serious damage to people.
Well, before these Fidos became pets, they used to:
- Pull heavy carts.
- Herd livestock (e.g., cattle).
Also, Rottweilers are one of the first military dogs along with:
- German Shepherds.
- Doberman Pinschers.
Check out also: Revealed: Why German Shepherds Are Used As Police Dogs
#2: They have a strong bite force
A study found that the bigger the dog’s skull is, the stronger their bite.
And Rottweilers are known for their large heads and wide jaws.
An adult Rottie’s head measures around:
- 6 in (15 cm) – in males.
- 5 in (13 cm) – in females.
“How strong is a Rottweiler’s jaw?”
In estimate, they have 381 PSI or pounds per square inch.
And among the dog breeds, Rottweilers ranked 11th in bite force.
Okay. Right now, it might be hard for you to visualize how intense that pressure is.
So let’s have a comparison.
Based on experts, a Grey wolf has a bite force of 400 PSI.
This wild animal can easily tear off their prey’s flesh. And their jaw strength is only 19 higher than a Rottweiler’s.
Imagine how much damage this Fido can do if they become aggressive.
#3: They have a high prey drive
Most Rottweilers also have the urge to chase small dogs or animals.
They can be bold and seek them ’till the end.
Because of this instinct and their strong jaws…
Rottweilers can cause severe bite wounds on their victims.
And these are in addition to other injuries after being:
- Pinned.
- Tripped.
- Pursued.
Reading tip: Are dogs stronger than humans?
Is it normal for Rottweilers to kill humans?
It’s not normal for Rottweilers, or any other dogs, to kill humans. Canines only become violent if they lack training, attention, or socialization.
And I’ll discuss this in detail.
Why do Rottweilers become aggressive?
Contrary to the famous myth that ‘vicious dogs’ are born…
Research shows that a Fido’s hostility has little to do with their breed.
“Really?
So, what are the real reasons?”
According to the study, parents play the biggest role in a dog’s aggressiveness.
This applies to Rotties and all other breeds.
And these are the following factors that may contribute to it:
- Spoiling the dog.
- Failure to walk them daily.
- Spending little time with them.
- Not training the Fido for obedience.
- Having no prior experience with dogs.
Do Rottweilers always attack strangers?
This breed is loyal by nature and protective of their humans. So it can be dangerous if a Rottie goes all out to attack an intruder.
Also, these dogs tend to become suspicious of unknown people. Especially if they’re not exposed to strangers since they were young.
And this might also cause them to act fiercely.
Based on a study…
Fear is the number 1 cause of dog aggression.
Think about it.
We usually fear the unknown too.
So what would happen if our Fidos were in a situation they’ve never experienced before?
Or if they’re in front of someone they don’t know?
They’ll be anxious and stressed.
And when this fearfulness isn’t noticed asap…
Another research says it can lead to aggression. So they may snap at anyone.
Trivia: The same study also found that being timid has a prevalence rate of 26.2% of dogs.
However, there’s a solution to this.
Believe it or not, but…
Rotties can be taught when and when not to attack
Well, these ‘ferocious beasts’ are working breeds. So they’re intelligent and highly trainable.
It’s not good if a Fido only knows to use their fangs all the time.
That’s a dog who poses a risk to:
- Their family
- Other animals.
- Whole society.
In contrast, a well-trained and socialized Rottie will know their limitations.
They won’t easily get agitated by strangers.
And a dog like this can growl and bark in command too.
Still in doubt?
Check out this scary but hilarious clip of a fur parent making their Rottie snarl:
Imagine if you were an intruder and the Fido above gave you that most menacing growl.
You’ll run away immediately.
Note: You shouldn’t take dog aggression lightly. So to train your Rottie properly, you may need a professional to guide you along the way. But in the meantime, always reward your Fido if they did something good to reinforce the behavior.
Why would a Rottweiler attack their parent?
VCA says that at least 15% of dog parents have been bitten by their own Fidos.
So, a Rottweiler might do this to their humans. And it’s also the same thing for other dog breeds.
But remember, dogs don’t bite without reason.
Usually, canines can be aggressive to someone they know only if they’re:
- In pain or have an illness.
- Possessive over belongings.
- Fighting with other dogs at the moment.
- Abused in their previous or current home.
So if your Fido shows these signs:
- Lunging.
- Snarling.
- Snapping.
- Growling.
- Stiff body posture.
- Exposing their teeth.
- Turning their head away.
This means they’ll likely snap at or bite at any minute when provoked.
What to do?
Correcting dog aggression might be one of the hardest things to do. And it can also be unsafe for you.
So it’s best to consult an experienced dog behaviorist to assess your Fido.
Then, strive to give your dog all they need. And also, avoid the stimuli that cause them to be hostile.
Studies say that Chihuahuas are fiercer than Rotties
Like Rotties, Chihuahuas or ‘Chis’ also have a bad reputation.
They’re known for:
- Barking a lot.
- Acting so aggressive.
- Being not good with kids.
One study even shows that Chis are more aggressive than ‘monster dogs’ – Rotties and Pitbulls.
The researchers collected responses from over 4,000 dog parents.
And out of 35 breeds of canines…
Chihuahuas were said to show the most aggressive behaviors. Especially to larger Fidos.
On the other hand…
The ‘scary’ Pit Bulls are on the least aggressive list. As well as Rottweilers.
Now, this is one of the reasons why Chis are the 2nd most euthanized dog.
And also why many of them are in shelters today.
But like other dogs…
This ‘personality’ of Chis has a reason too.
Experts call it the ‘Napoleon Complex.’
Since Chis are small, they get easily scared, especially around a bigger Fido or human.
For these tiny dogs, we might seem like scary giants.
So what would a frightened Chi do?
They’ll bark or snarl to intimidate. Also, they’ll snap or bite if triggered.
But sometimes, this behavior might also be due to:
- Illness.
- Lack of socialization.
- Overprotectiveness of parent.
Further reading: Chihuahua Bite Force PSI: 5 Facts, Statistics & Fatalities
Do humans kill Rottweilers?
In some cases, humans kill Rottweilers to stop them from harming more people. This is the last resort if a dog’s deemed to be unsafe for society.
And experts call it ‘behavioral euthanasia.’
“Why is it needed?”
A Fido with extreme aggression is a danger to the lives of other people. (And animals too!)
But vets say that the affected dog also suffers mentally due to it.
An aggressive dog may also become:
- Anxious.
- Stressed.
And usually, rehoming isn’t an option in this case.
So even though it’s a hard decision to make…
Dog parents should consider these factors. Then decide which is best for their Fido and the community.